Comparative Study of Water Quality Parameters along NH, SH and Link Road of Shivalik Foothills in Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the spatial and seasonal variation in the quality of the surface water sources along national highway, state highway and link road. Physicochemical properties of water were estimated using water samples collected during the pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons in the year 2018 and 2019. The water quality parameters (pH, EC, Turbidity, TDS, BOD, COD, Cl-, NO3- and heavy metals) were calculated. The investigation revealed that pH (6.91-7.35), EC (0.17-0.29 dS m-1), TDS (140.12-175.54 mg l-1), Turbidity (2.34-3.87 NTU), BOD (2.25-2.89 mg l-1), COD (13.49-20.19 mg l-1), Cl- (14.36-30.15 mg l-1), NO3- (3.12-4.89 mg l-1) and various heavy metals were within permissible limits and varied significantly (p<0.05) on spatial variations. Maximum effects of vehicular emissions along the roadside water bodies were observed at NH followed by SH and minimum was noticed at LR. Among the seasons, maximum values of water quality parameters were observed during pre-monsoon season followed by monsoon and then post-monsoon.